COL UMAR, OTHER GROUPS LAMBAST PRESIDENT BUHARI OVER DELAY OF CONFIRMATION OF CJN

Colonel Abubakar  Dangiwa Umar (rtd) has called on Nation’s legislative arm; Upper Chambers of the Senate not to confirm any nominee other than Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN

following the refusal or delay by the President to confirm the Acting CJN.

The former military governor of Kaduna state, Col. Umar made this call in a statement recently with the title; “Appointment  of  A substantive Chief Justice Of Nigeria” amid anxiety with the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to forward the name of Justice Onnoghen who has been in acting capacity as the Chief Justice of Nigeria to the Senate for confirmation.

Col Umar in the statement, said that; “In a few days, the tenure of appointment of Justice Onnoghen in acting capacity will expire. Going by our extant Constitution, the Acting CJN will be disqualified from appointment as the substantive CJN unless the NJC resubmits his nomination to the President”.

According to the former military administrator, known for his blunt but frank disposition, said that; “without providing any cogent and plausible or believable reason for its failure to forward the name of Justice Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation, leaves Nigerians guessing and speculating about the reasons”.  

“Already, many analysts view this action as a ploy to deny a southerner his right to succession based on his seniority in keeping with ye appointment protocol observed by the NJC in making the appointment”.

The statement by Umar Dangiwa further reads; “in the event of this occurrence, the NJC must not forward any other name nor should the Senate confirm any other nominee as this will serve to check the excesses of this administration and reinforce the unity of the nation which has already been pushed to the precipice by the recruitment and appointment policies of a government which tends to favour the North in violation of the Federal character provision of the Constitution”. The statement concluded.

However, in a sharp twist, the man at the centre of the storm, Justice Walter Onnoghen has come out to distance himself from all of the cry for his support.

Speaking recently through his aide, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria has directed that the President, Muhammadu Buhari should be allowed a free hand to appoint a substantive CJN without any form of pressure by Nigerians.

Justice Onnoghen made this known following the growing concerns over President Buhari’s failure to submit his name to the Senate for confirmation, stating that, “Nigerians should allow Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, a free hand to perform his constitutional duties concerning the appointment of a substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria”.

According to the statement, “Honourable Justice Onnoghen believes that the President does not need any threat or ultimatum to perform his constitutional duties and therefore disassociates himself from those individuals and groups making such demands on the President”.

With the reactions from the Acting CJN, many groups have continued to express their dissatisfaction and regrets over the statements accredited to Justice Onnoghen.